BlogMas #10 - Fashion

A Tuxedo blazer is great for a different take on party dressing, great for glam looks.

Cosmopolitan Magazine

BlogMas #9 - Skin

"Zit emergency, don't squeeze.  Dab on a little bit of eye drops to reduce redness."

Sarah Chapman

The Skin Project - Exfoliating

Post #3 of The Skin Project started by Lianne of www.thebrunettesays.co.uk 

Exfoliating is the process of removing the dead skin cells from the epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin. Exfoliation can be done manually with face scrubs, muslin cloths, as well by chemical means. 

My method of exfoliation is by chemical means. In the past I have used the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, REN F10 Smooth and Renew Peel Mask and the REN Gycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask These were all very lovely as weekly treatments giving my skin a weekly boost. Since May I have been using the PIXI glow Tonic as my chemical exfoliator. After cleansing my skin at night/morning I give my face a quick wipe using the Glow Tonic on a cotton pad. 

xx

BlogMas #8 - Diet

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”  - Virginia Woolf

The foods that get you going and your brain going are all about protein, healthy fats Omega-3s and the kind of key nutrients you can only get from healthy grains, vegetables and “foods for thought.”

BlogMas #7 - Self

Remember to put yourself first this Christmas season. The shopping, cooking and everything else can wait. If you do not take care of yourself then you cannot take care of anyone else. Plan a little pampering such as a facial or a massage as a treat to ready you for the season. 

xx

BlogMas #6 - Legs

The sun might be hiding, but that does not mean you should drop the ball of exfoliating your pins. Keep up your exfoliating routine through the Winter, the same as you did during the Spring and Summer. This way your legs  will stay smooth, toned and flake free.

For some added oopmh apply shimmer lotion to legs before a night out. 

xx

BlogMas Day 5 - Decorating

    Decorating your home for the Christmas season can get tricky and sometimes expensive. Grab a clear glass vase from your nearest Ikea or ASDA home, craft glue and glitter. Apply the glue around the rim of the vase, sprinkle your choice of glitter onto the glue and leave to dry. 

    There you go sparkly festive Christmas decor. 
David Tutera

BlogMas Day 3 - "7 (surprising) Beauty Dos" for you this Christmas

Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into shampoo to help remove build up from hair. - Ted Gibons, Hairstylist

Use a paint roller to apply tan in tricky areas like your back. - James Read, Tan Expert

Use half an eyelash curler to shape unruly brows. - Cher Webb MAC Cosmetics, Senior Makeup Artist

No nail polish remover? Apply a top coat and quickly swipe off. - Benjamin Puckey, Makeup Artist

Mix a pea sized amount of a darker foundation with your usual shade for a sunkissed glow. - Sarah Jossel, Glamour Junior Beauty Editor

To slim your nose sweep non shimmer highlighter down the middle. - Wendy Rowe Make-up Artist

Dab Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on the top of cheekbones to look super glowy in photos. Phillipa Pearne, glamour Deputy Beauty Editor.  

Glamour Magazine October 2013 

Family Time

These are just some pics my cousin took of me today, after our  mad dash to the supermarket.  Sundays we get together at my aunts house to eat, chill and hang out. 

Sitting on the picnic table in the garden. 

God, Food and Family, perfect day. 

Shades - Giorgio Armani

Jacket - Joules Oakwaood

Shirt - Dorothy Perkins

Jeans - Bershka

Loafers - Dune

Stay blessed and centered my lovelies.

xx 

The Skin Project - Cleansing

                                                   

     Cleansing is a way of cleaning our skin to get rid of dirt, dead skin cells and other pollutants which have come in contact with our skin through the atmosphere. No matter what your skin type, you should cleanse your skin thoroughly twice a day, in the morning as well as the evening. 

     In the morning cleansing is important to get rid of the dead skin cells which have flaked off during the night while you have been asleep. To continuously refrain from morning cleansing could possibly cause a buildup a dead skin cells, which over time could lead to clogged pores and cause breakouts.  (No one wants that now do we?) Evening cleansing gets rid of all the sweat/makeup on your skin and also  any chemicals/pollutants/antioxidants which have come in contact with your skin as you have gone through your day to day activities. 

     To cleanse my skin in the morning I use the Neutrogena 3 in 1 mask/cleanser. It is a clay based cleanser which is great for absorbing oil from the skin. I remove it by using a cotton flannel damp with warm water, taking special care to thoroughly remove the product from my hairline and eyebrows.  I only cleanse once in the morning.

     In the evenings/night I cleanse my face using the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm. I apply the cleansing balm to dry face, massage in the product and remove using a flannel damp with warm water. I go through this method twice taking care to completely remove the product from my hairline and eyebrows.

My Current Skincare Edit 

The Current Skincare Edit - Budget Friendly Version

                       The skin Project was started by Lianne - www.thebrunettesays.co.uk .

You can follow the series on twitter my lovelies,

 using the hashtag. #TheSkinProject

xx

BlogMas #1 - Nails

If there ever was a time for sparkle it's Christmas time. 

Get your nails in the festive mood with brilliant gold and silvers. 

Soho Silver, Uptown Glamour

These are the two main polishes which will be on my nails over the next few weeks. 

Sparkle my lovelies.

xx

Luxury Christmas Wishlist - Space NK Edit

This is my luxury Christmas wishlist of all the things I lust over. 

These are the things I would buy, if I had £247 of spare cash lying around after all my bills and day to day needs were met. quite a few of them are gift sets and mini collections, which I love. For some reason with the mini gift sets I get more value for money by being able to try different liners, glosses, products, all in all I to sample without the commitment that comes with purchasing a full priced item. Plus minis are GREAT for travelling and tucking into a clutch bag or jacket pocket.  

NUXE - Cocooning Must Haves

Laura Mercier - Line & Define Mini Longwear Creme Eyeliner Collection 

Stila - Colour Me Glossy Lip Glaze Set

Laura Mercier - Bold Brights Mini Lip Glace Collection

Caudalie - Hancream Trio Set 

Laura Mercier - Shimmer Effects Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour collection

Laura Mercier - Bare Nudes Mini Lip Glace Collection

What is Christmas if not for wishing. 

Face Of The Day

Take no notice of my backyard selfie. I refrained from cropping the shadow of my hand across the photo, because it adds to the authenticity of the image. lol lol 

Face of the Day includes 

MAC Studio Fix Powder + Foundation -  NW45

IMAN Powder -  Earth Dark

Nars Blush - Outlaw ( I still love that name, lol)  

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Super Volume Mascara

MAC Moisture Cover Concealer - NW45 & NC45  (under eyes)

MAC Studio Finish Concealer - NW45 (shaping brows and covering blemishes)

MAC Prep and Prime Eye - Dark

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick - Flat out Fabulous

MAC Lip pencil  - Magenta 

xo xo 

OOTD

I will admit this is more of a half an outfit of the day post, since my legs are cut off in the pictures. A fact I realised too late.  

Shades - Giorgio Armani

Jacket - Joules Oakwood A/W13 

Jumper - H&M A/W13

Shirt - H&M circa 09

Trousers - GAP Ultra Skinny Trouser

Bag - Lonchamp Le Pliage Medium Navy Tote

xx

Vera Wang Lovestruck - Floral Rush

                                                    

I love the Vera Wang Lovestruck fragrance. Earlier in the year I bought one  of these perfumes when Boots had them on special offer during May. Floral Rush has a light floral scent, which is not too far from the original fragrance but enough to make a distinction.  It is suitable for the Spring/Summer months where a lighter scent is suited for every day activities like going to work.  In true Vera Wang Fashion the bottle is gorgeous, not in any way handbag friendly but gorgeous all the same. 

It is a Eau de Parfum which means that due to the  higher concentrate of perfume,  the fragrance lingers on the body longer than it would have if it was an Eau de Toilette. 

Simply put I like this fragrance enough to suggest, you to give it a sniff. 

I am  giving my sister for her birthday.  (She specifically asked for perfume, plus the bottle is gorgeous.)

The Vera Wang Lovestruck - Floral Rush is currently on offer 30ml for the Price of £19.99 at Boots and John Lewis. If you or someone you know are interested, this is the time to snatch one up.

Happy Spritzing my lovelies.

xx

Boots Star Gift - Sanctuary Ultimate Glow Pamper Tin

A little bit of self indulgence is on offer this week available from Boots. The Sanctuary Ultimate Glow Pamper Tin (sounds like the perfect prep before a night out) is on offer at the cost of £19 per tin. 

                                                     

The Ultimate Pamper Tin Contains:
-Body Wash (250ml)
-Body Lotion (250ml)
-Radiance Exfoliator (100ml)
-Fresh Faced Purifying Wash (140ml 
-Pumice Foot Scrub (50ml)
-Moisture Rich Foot Butter (50ml)
-Spa Pedicure Foot File
-Spa Skin Body Polisher
-Spa Facial Headband

Not only does the set include everything you need to get yourself ready for a glittery night out. It also comes with instructions. lol 

How to Use

Body Wash: Massage on to damp skin then rinse away. Therapist’s Tip: Finish your shower with a blast of cold water – as cold as you dare - to tone your skin, close pores and awaken your senses.

Body Lotion: Massage generously into clean skin after bathing to help awaken your senses, stimulate circulation and soften skin. Therapist’s Tip: Massage the lotion into slightly damp skin to lock in moisture and leave your skin satin smooth.

Radiance Exfoliator: 1. After cleansing, while face is still damp, apply a pea-sized quantity of the scrub & massage into skin. 2. Use upward circular movements paying particular attention to nose, forehead & chin. 3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 4. Pat dry & apply Illuminating Moisture Lotion. Therapists Tip: This exfoliator can also be used on the back of hands to help even skin tone.

Fresh Faced Purifying Wash: 1. Add a splash of water to the product and rub between hands to activate the foam. 2. Work over face and neck in an upwards circular motion using your fingertips. 3. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 4. Pat dry and sweep Pore Refining Toner over face and neck. 5. Finish with a Sanctuary moisturiser.

Pumice Foot Scrub: Massage into damp skin from the base of the heel towards the toes. Rinse away the scrub and pat dry.

Moisture Rich Foot Butter: Massage the Sanctuary Moisture Rich Foot Butter generously all over both feet. For a more luxurious spa treatment, use with the Sanctuary Moisture Locking Socks.

Another great gift idea for you my lovelies.

xx

The Skin Project - My Skin

                                      

Hey guys this will be my first post in a 12 week long blog series series called "The Skin Project" started by Lianne over at www.thebrunettesays.co.uk. Over the next few weeks there will be 1 post a week covering a wide array of topics in relation to skin and skincare.

My Skin 

I have oily skin and when I say oily I really mean OIL-EEEEEEEE. My major skin concerns arise from my cystic acne. I had one really bad breakout in 2010 which  lasted for about 2 months. Ever since then I have had reoccurring inflammation in the same area along with other spots. I have always been obsessed with skincare and quite a few of my family members were surprised when I went to Study Economics, Money and Banking at uni instead of Cosmetology. 

While I was at uni a few of my friends were really into skincare a lot of stuff from the Body Shop and my other friend/housemate was into high end skincare, so between all of them I have tried and tested a few things.  L’Occitane, Body Shop – Vitamin E, Body Shop – Seaweed, Body Shop – Tea Tree, Clarins, La Roche Posay, Avene, Garnier Naturals, Clinique I have tried quite a few things on this face of mine. 

Wearing sunblock is imperative for my since I am trying to get rid of some of my acne scarring, and prevent wrinkles from forming, I would like to be as well preserved as possible ladies and gents! In my family it is not dinner/supper if the meal has no veggies.  I eat 1 cup of veggies every night with my evening meal, it is something I have been practicing for over 2 years and it works well for me. What you eat does contribute to your overall health and in turn your skin. 

I take  2 -3  Fish oil capsules every day for my overall health, also I recently found out that fish oil contributes to a plumping effect in the skin, more power to that. I  am a believer in the saying wwhatever goes on in your gut manifests itself in your face." I drink at least 1 – litre of water a day minimum.  I need my body to stay hydrated, due to the fact that I am so active. I can actually tell the difference in my skin when I am hydrated compared to when I am not. Also I don't drink excessively I might indulge more than normal on high holidays e.g. Christmas, Birthdays, Carnival, New Years etc. Week to week my alcohol intake is limited to 2 glasses of wine on a Friday evening and maybe a glass or two on Sunday afternoons with family dinner.  this is just my personal lifestyle choice, the fact that I am not imbibing  excessive alcohol regularly is a bonus for my skin. 

Follow the series on twitter via the hashtag #TheSkinProject.

Have a great evening my lovelies.

Haul Post - November 2013

A mish mash of  things I have been gathering over this past week. 

Listerine Gum treatment  - £2.74,

 Colgate 360 toothbrush - £1.27,

 Colgate Pro gum Health Whitening  Toothpaste - £1.97 each

Palmolive Mediterranian Moments Shower Cream - £1.10 each 

Vaseline Compressed Deodorants - £1 each 

Davidoff Cool Water woman EDT - £10.97

Ecotools Domed Bronzer Brush - 5.99

Ecotools Tapered Blush Brush - £3.99